They sat in the van as it rocked side to side in the strong wind.
It was 6-30 am.
It was still dark.
Beach Buoy flicked on the fairy lights that ran along the dashboard; every little helps.
Beach Buoy had brought hot coffee in thermal cups.
The dashboard monkey had held the biscuits for the short journey.
There was only one other vehicle in the windswept car park.
A young lady sat in her Mini, her face illuminated by her mobile phone.
The damp promenade wall illuminated by her car headlights.
After a while the young lady drove off to the sound of loud music playing in her car.
Just as she left, another car arrived; an estate car.
Oddly the car went and parked in the same spot the earlier car had just left, in an empty car park of over 200 spaces.
Beach Buoy sipped the hot coffee.
It was handy having it already made.
No faff with gas bottles and kettle, but then again he loved the faff.
He had waited years to be able to faff.
The hopes of a bright sunrise seemed as bleak as the grey clouds that hugged the horizon.
It sounded a bit wild out there.
They could sit here, put the heater and radio on and just watch the sea....
Nopey nope, the stack wouldn't stack itself now would it?
Beach Buoy opened the side door and peeled Stubborn Dog from the back seat.
The little dog was warm and very comfy.
Beach Buoy dressed the reluctant dog in two coats.
One of them was a waterproof onesie.
It was a pain to put on him.
As Beach Buoy put the dog's left leg in, the dog would take its right leg out and shake it all about, just like that song.
A couple of couples were up ahead to the south.
The 7 am club were bringing up the rear from the north.
The sea was rippled but not angry.
The strong wind was attempting to flatten any waves that dare to form.
Beach Buoy glanced back to the north to see that the beach was beginning to fill up.
Well for around 7-30 am on a windy day it was busy.
They stacked the stack but didn't stay there, as it was a little busy in that area with visitors.
So once it was stacked, they made good their escape and went and sat down on the grey rocks to watch the sea and sip some coffee.
There was another cup waiting in the van.
It had been made for Harvey the Pooka but if he didn't show up then Beach Buoy would claim it... again.
The Pooka would show up one day and when he does there is a coffee waiting.
Sometimes Pookas is all we have....
The sun reflected on the wet sands
Rock pools rippled in strong wing and bright sunlight.
The Sand Martins Sand Bank managed to catch some of the morning's sun.
They have long gone to warmer climes...
Two world war two tank trap blocks remembered the good old days.
Beach Buoy has tried to squeeze early hour of daylight from the year.
They began a slow walk back.
Thankfully the beach was much quieter now.
The beach-trapped sea water made it back out to sea.
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog made it back to the van.
No Pooka; so Coffee time it was.
